Truth? Subjective vs Objective

Writing 101 submission for day 12)

Truth? Subjective vs Objective

A friend posted this on Facebook today.

Here is what was written, along with the illustration:

“I love this illustration because it so simply demonstrates the difference between — subjective truth — & — objective truth. —

Two people can view a singular ABSOLUTE TRUTH and each declare a SUBJECTIVE TRUTH from their perspective. Each observes something that appears to contradict the observation of the other. Yet neither are wrong.

Does this mean there is no absolute truth? No.

Rather they each view the absolute truth from the subjectivity of their perspective. By discussing their perspectives they have the ability to learn more about the objective truth. Even still, the truth they know is subject to their two perspectives, and further, their ability to accurately communicate their perspectives to each other.

Can they ever know the absolute truth? Only if the truth itself declares it to them. Then each observer would understand the truth according to it’s absolute reality.

In this illustration, the absolute truth is that this is a two-dimensional image created by a talented and thoughtful artist who very kindly labeled the elements of his illustration to clearly reveal the absolute truth, in contrast to subjective truth.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The article and the image made me think about how we, as believers, sometimes react and interact with each other in discussions over the tenets of our faith, over truth, and over who God is.

This conversation I’ve created falls short in so many ways, but I did it because this is what I see so often in conversations about faith and who God is. Neither the illustration, nor the conversation, holds true of God, who is without beginning or end, or to our relationship to Him or in Him. It’s only meant to represent what I’ve seen and heard from some believing friends and it’s also true of myself at times.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Conversation

OS = orange square

BC = blue circle

OSBC = God

OS and BC are in a discussion about OSBC

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OS: “It’s an orange square”

BC: “No it’s not! What’s the matter with you? Can’t you tell the difference between a square and a circle? And it’s not orange, it’s blue”

OS: “I’ve been studying this out for years, and from my knowledge of circles and squares, as well as my studies on colours, I can tell you without a shadow of doubt that this is definitely a square, and it is orange. Are you blind? How could you say this is remotely anything like a circle? And how can you say it is blue? Are you colour blind also?”

BC: “0h. I get it now. You’ve been indoctrinated by the institution of square people, who choose to see only what is orange, so that now you only want to know squares and can’t even see circles. You’ve become blind to blue items and only see the orange you have been taught to see. I feel sorry for you. I’ve studied this out for years also and I know you are wrong about this. If only you could see circles! If only you knew the colour blue! It’s so sad that you have become shape challenged and colour blind in your search for the truth.”

OSBC : “My dear children, please don’t fight! You are both right in your perceptions from where you stand right now, but you are both wrong in your conclusions. Your perspectives are limited. You are finite in nature. You each only have a small part of the truth because you cannot see the whole picture.

Perhaps if you could stand in each other’s shoes for a few minutes, you would gain understanding and learn from each other. Open your eyes and your hearts and try to see the bigger picture rather than immediately judging each other. That only drives you further apart.

The truth is that I am so much more than you can see or know right now, but one day you shall see me fully and you will know me fully. In the meantime, be patient with each other, listen to each other, learn from each other and grow in your knowledge and perspective of who I am.

Stop arguing over who is “right”, which is futile and non productive. Start loving and nurturing each other and start growing and working towards the whole truth of who I am. Together!

Do it for my sake…..”

PS: A year later, I discover who I believe is the creator of the original poster (which is a little different in colour and content from the one above that I found on Facebook). I am posting that one here, now, and giving proper credit for it to TeriRoss at Rabadaba. I love the confirmation of the meaning of the poster!

AJ ❤

Save